Girl, Are You Eating All The Wrong Things? Learn The Ins & Outs Of The Alkaline Diet

Hollywood celebs are at it again–claiming the (fill in the blank) is the diet that helps keep them right and tight. Well today’s dietexploration is on the alkaline diet–also known as the alkaline ash diet or alkaline acid diet.

Alkaline diet describes a group of loosely related diets based on the belief that certain foods can affect the acidity and pH of bodily fluids, including the urine or blood and can therefore be used to treat or prevent diseases.

Why So Popular You Ask

Rumor has it that adopting a low acid diet can help you lost weight and avoid problems like arthritis and cancer. Ok, so far so good. How so? Well the theory is that some foods, like meat, wheat, refined sugar, and processed foods, cause your body to produce acid, which is bad for you. Duh to the processed foods and refined sugar, but why meat and wheat? Well apparently these foods are highly acidic and throw off our pH levels. See next tip…

First Some Chemistry 101

The only time I think about pH balance is when I double up on my deodorant before the gym, however ladies your pH levels matter beyond your daily sweat session. A pH level measures how acid or alkaline something is. A pH of 0 is totally acidic, a pH of 14 is absolutely alkaline and a pH of 7 is neutral. Naturally, those levels vary throughout your body – for instance your blood is slightly alkaline (pH between 7.35 and 7.45) and your stomach is incredibly acidic so it can break down food (pH is typically 3.5 or below). However it is important to understand beauties that nothing you eat is going to substantially change the pH of your blood. P.S. The way your body is set up, it works to keep that level constant no matter what.

Disease Alert

So now that you know what pH levels are all about, allow me to explain the other claim to fame associated with the alkaline diet – disease control. Of course we all know the key to optimal health relies on a healthy diet, however there’s some early evidence that a diet low in acid-producing foods like animal protein, bread and high in acid fruits and veggies could help prevent kidney stones, keep bones and muscles strong, improve heart health and brain function, reduce low back pain, and lower risk for colon cancer and type 2 diabetes. But researchers aren’t sure yet.

What To Eat And Not Eat

Interested in giving this diet a try? Well here’s what is fine to dine and what you will have to ditch. Most fruits and vegetables, soybeans and tofu, and some nuts, seeds, and legumes are alkaline-promoting foods, so indulge in these for sure. However, dairy, eggs, meat, most grains, and processed foods, like canned and packaged snacks and convenience foods, fall on the acid side so these are not allowed. So in short, if you can ditch meat then go for it sis!

Robbie Ann Darby (RAD Experience) is a professional FitGirl, Group Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer in NYC. Follow her sweaty life on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagramfor more fun health and fitness tips!